CHAPTER 50
Chase comes home from school to find Cooper waiting for him on the couch. "Why are you home so early, dad?"
"The mechanic called me this morning." Cooper answers.
"What mechanic?"
"From the shop where I had the car towed after you got the flat."
"Heh, they're calling now? It took them long enough to fix a flat tire." Chase comments
"They left a voice mail for me on Saturday to call them back. I figured they just wanted to let me know the car was ready. I didn't call them back until today." Cooper explains.
"So, you want to go pick it up now?"
"The police want to look at it first." Cooper tells him.
"Why?"
"The reason the mechanic called me on Saturday was to let me know there were three razor blades imbedded in the tire."
"Really?"
"That's what you sliced your finger on. One of them was sticking out of the tire." Cooper tells him.
"I didn't see them, but it was dark and raining. I wonder how three razor blades ended up in my tire." Chase tells him.
"The mechanic found another razor blade in the front tire. It would have gone flat next."
"How did all these razor blades get in my tires?" Chase asks.
"The mechanic thought it was suspicious. He thinks someone vandalized your car. I called the police to inform them." Cooper tells.
"Oh my God, dad. Do you think someone vandalized my car on purpose so I wouldn't make it to the barn to meet Tess?"
"That's the first thing that came to my mind when the mechanic told me he thought it was done deliberately. I told that to the police. They want to come talk to you before they examine the car for evidence. I told them to come after school."
"Daddy!" Drew calls out. "Help!"
"What's wrong Drew?"
"You have to hide me." Drew runs up to Cooper.
"Why?" Cooper asks.
"The policeman is coming up the driveway. I don't want to go to jail." Drew cries.
"Why are you going to jail?" Chase asks.
"I stole some Lego's from the classroom."
"Why?" Chase screws up his face. "We have Lego's here."
"They have better Lego's at school. I stuffed some in my pockets. Ashley saw me. She must have told on me and the teacher called the police." Drew cries." I don't want to go to jail."
"Relax, Squirt. The policeman is here for Chase, not you." Cooper picks Drew up.
"I don't want Chase to go to jail." Drew cries.
"Chase isn't going to jail either."
The officer knocks on the door. Drew cries again. "Hide me, daddy. I'm scared." Cooper puts Drew down. "Go hide in your room, Squirt."
Chase runs up the stairs as fast as he can. Cooper let's the officer in. It's an older officer in his fifties.
The officer walks in the house. "I've been in this house before." He tells them. "Many years ago."
"Really?" Chase says. "When?"
"It had to be over ten years ago. A three year old boy was missing."
"Ah, yes," Cooper nods. "This is that three year old boy. He's sixteen now." Cooper smiles.
"Momma told me about that. I was next door playing with Nicky but nobody knew where I was." Chase nods.
"It's nice to meet you again, young man." The officer shakes his hand. They all move into the living room. Chase sits next to the officer on the couch. "I understand they found three razor blades in your tire?"
"Yes," Cooper answers. "The mechanic thinks it was deliberate. Chase was supposed to meet his girlfriend at the barn at Ross Stabile, she was assaulted that night. We think someone wanted to keep Chase from making it to the barn." Cooper explains.
"That would make it a first degree crime if it was planned." The officer writes on his clipboard. He asks Chase "Who else knew your girlfriend was going to be at the barn?"
"Nobody. We didn't tell anyone." Chase shrugs.
"Maybe, your girlfriend did." The officer suggests.
"I doubt it." Chase answers.
"Someone could have been stalking her. If they deliberately vandalized your car to keep you from going to the barn, someone was after her. Do you know anyone who would want to hurt your girlfriend?" The officer asks.
"No." Chase shakes his head. "Nobody."
"We'll talk to your girlfriend and we'll have to do a forensic exam on your car looking for fingerprints or any other signs of vandalism."
"Okay." Chase gets up with the officer and shows him to the door.
"If you think of anything, here's my card." The officer hand it to Chase and leaves.
Cooper yells up the stairs. "The coast is clear. You can come out now."
Drew runs to the steps and calls down to Cooper. "Did the policeman leave?"
"He did but you better return those Lego's to your teacher tomorrow or I'm calling him to come back." Cooper teases.
"K, daddy. I promise I will." Drew runs back to his room.
Chase calls Tess to tell her about the tire. "They're planning a line up for tomorrow." Tess tells Chase. "Can you come with me?"
"Yes. I'll be there." Chase nods into the phone.
"Can you ask your momma to come too?" Tess asks.
"I'll ask her tonight when she comes home from work."
"Thanks."
"I have to ask you something."
"What?" Tess asks.
"Did you mention to anyone that we meet at the barn on Friday nights?"
"No. I don't have any friends. Remember? Who would I tell?" Tess asks.
"I don't know. Maybe somebody overheard us talking when we were out to eat or something. Maybe it was some waiter at a restaurant who overheard us talking about meeting at the barn on Fridays or maybe it was someone at another table." Chase thinks out loud.
"Why do you think someone overheard us?"
"It was planned. They found three razor blades in my tire and another razor blade in a different tire. For that to happen the same night is no coincidence, Tess. That guy planned on attacking you." Chase tells her.
"Why me?"
"Well, you're beautiful for one."
"Stop."
"You are, but it was also convenient for him, an isolated barn. He knew you would be there all alone if he cut my tires."
"I hope he's one of the guys in the line up tomorrow. I want answers."
"Me too." Chase sighs.
